Stock-line recorder.



3 vw@ 11 to@ kbowwg STOCK LINE RECORDER. APPLIQATIQN' r11.

fl. E., JOHNSON, JB'.

J. E. JOHNSON, JR. STOCK LINE RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1906.

951,128; Patented Mr. 8', 1910.v

2 SHEETS-SHEET' 2.

lll/A -UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE. A

.T osEPHE. JOHNSON, Jn., o'LoNe DALE, VIRGINIA.

-STOCK-LINE RECORDER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led May 3, 1906. Serial No. 315,074.

To all lwhom it may concern: Y

Bc it known that I, JOSEPH E. JoHNsoN,

J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Dale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Virginia, have invented certain cording the rate and nature of the descent of the stock atv all times and the length of l'hc time intervals occurring between4 succes-- sive charges. V

Itl has long 'been customary to' use am'etal rod passing'through a hole, lor holes, inthe hopper, or other place of access, to deter-y mine by hand-test from time to time the distance of the upper 'surfaceof the stock below the top of thefurnace, and such'rods have also recently been connected with y graduated indicating means, whereby the position assumed- :.at' the .time of testing could be more accurately read .and measured for each observation.' F uthermore, a means for recording-the times of movement of theV charging-bell of the furnace and .theextent of movement thereof has been`proposed i from which might roughly'be inferredA the i `position ofthe stock-line at such ,times of opening; but under the modern'condition's of blast-furnace operation, involving much higher pressure than formerly and much .Y ner ores, something -far more accurate and reliable than an occasional gaging of the stock-time or record of the times of dumping each chargeof stock is required. The

-' tendency of the stock to stick in the furnace and settle by jumps of greater or lessmagnitude at much varyi'no intervals of time, vis vastly increased, maing it of great imortance that the furnaceman should be orewarned of these conditions, and espe- :cially vif thetime interval since -ltlie'stock last settled isof undue duration, `so' that he may take precautionary measure's'to prevent a.vsl1p of too great severity from which seriousl vdamage has frequently re-` sulted'. It is'also very desirable to have a 'record; inaccessible to the vfillers, ofthe regularityv with which `the-stock vhad been charged into the furnace, affording an in- .scends with the fallible check upon their operations. To supt Patented Maur. 8, 1910.

ply such want is the object of the present invention.

The.essential, features of the present invention comprise; first a main bell upon which the stock, or mat'erial'fed into the top -of-the blast furnace, rests untildischarged therefrom by the lowering of the bell; second, automatic means, (such as a counterweight) for maintaining the bell in its raised or-closed position; third`a power cylinder (or -other equivalent device) acting on the -bell inthe direction opposite to that of the closing means Afor lowering the bell to 'discharge the stock from the top of the vbell into the furance; next, a testl rod, or rods,

:which rest upon 'the stock when the main lbell is closed and indicate the positions and movements of its upper surface ,but which Whenthe bell is opened are automatically withdrawn tobe out of-the way of the entering charge; and finally a cylinder` (or equivalent device for exerting a moving force), connected by suitable mechanism' to lthe testrod or rods, whereby when the motive v.power y' is turned on, the test-rod is raised, and, when the motive power is turned ofi", the-weight of the test-rod imoves the piston of the cylinder, or its equivalent, in the opposite-direction until-the test-rod bottoms vouthe stock, andv from that time until the motive` power is turned on again, the test-rod de'-l (or its equivalent) a distance proportional p stock, and .moves the piston',

to its travel. i v... In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment fofmy linvention f and some obvious modiicntiosthereof, Figure 1 isa view partly in sectionaland side elevation and partly diagrammatic, of my inventionlapplied to a standard blast furnace.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional'- View of the controlling-mechanism, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view ofthe .test-rod and recorder cylinder controlling mechanism.V j Figs. 4 to 7 are sectional views illustrating modilications of the controllingmechanism. Fig. 8 represents a portion of a chart showin@ markings made by the operation of thisinvention.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 is the `b-rickwork of the upper portion of an ordinary blast'..furnace, 11 is the hopper, 1Q,I

the hopper extension, 13, the filling platform: 14, a standard mounted on the brickwork of the furnace, l5, -a lever fulcrumed j h 21 iitted to move in a cylinder `22, as indion the standard, 16, a rod or link depending from one end/ of the lever 15 and 17 the charging bell suspended from the lever 15 by the link 16 and resting under the'inner edge 'of the hopper in its closed position. At the opposite end of the lever 15 is a counterweight 18, the size of which in connection with the relative length of the two ends of the lever 15,.is siiiiicient to cause the bell ,17 to remain normally'in its upper or-elosed position.

Suspended on the leverl at the end which holdsthe counterweight 18, are links 19 loosely connecting a piston rod 20, withsaid lever, which piston rod carries a piston cated in dottedl lines in Fig. l. The piston l21 and the rod 20, may be actuated in the cylinder 22 by any .suitable fluid,1such,as

steam, compressed air, gas, or any knownL equivalent thereof,` which is supplied to the cylii'ider'th-rougha pipe 23 and branches 24 and 25 entering at the upper and lower.

ends,;respectively'. The supply is regulated or controlled by a suitable valve 26, having an operating handle 27. From this valve 26 projects an exhaust discharge pipe 28 and another pipe 29 leading to 'the upper end of. a cylinder 30 in which is' fitted a piston 31, carrying a piston-rod 32 which either carries at its'` upper end, or has its upper Y portion formed into, a rack -33 normally in engagement with a pinion 34 on a shaft 35.

standard 14 before mentione The shaft 35 also carries a dru'in, pulley, or shea-ve, 36 to which is secured one end of -a lchain37 which leads .therefrornover a guide pulley,'or sheav, 38 mounted on a shaft 39 journaled in a bracket 40 sup "orteil on the The chain 37 lpasses downward from the pulley 38l through lthe bell 1-7 to the inside of the i furnace and 'carries at its lower end a test,-

endvof tlieleve'r 47 et a recorder L18. The,v i f lyfer 4.7 is ot bell\`crankforni, its innerarm Q 49 carrying a` pen .or pencil at 50', which iss , by bloeit-Werl( contained therein.

'rod l'adapted' to rest with its lower end upon tli-e surface of the 'stock or material 4t2 in the furnace.

` To' tlie piston rod 32,-at about the point fof its junction with the rack 33,r there. is `connected one endet the lever 43, pivoted at its outer end, att4 and carrying at an intermediate point, as attfi, a wire 46 which ,is connected at its lower end, tothe outer bears upon a 1graduated chart 51 supported on a part of' the recorder which is actuated TheL bell 17 fis normally closed, or in its uppermost position, and is opened at .in'tervals after ajcliarge of stock has been dumped upon it, tolperinit thischarge-to drop .into thefurnace. ,When this'. takes place it` is necessary/that the test-'rod be raised'up out ot' the way so that it 'will not be buried under or injured by'thefalling stock. To

esmas edectlthis simultaneous lowering of the bell and raising of the test-rod, steam, or other fluid, is passed into the'lower end of the bell cylinder 22 and. into the upper end of the test-rod or recorder cylinder' and this operation is accomplished as follows: (see Figs.

set that the operating fluid from the pipe 23 passes simultaneously through the pipe The valve 2G is @four-way valve- ,and by moving its operating handle it is so 25 into the lower end of the bell-cylinder22,

and through the pipe 29 into the upper end of the test-rod cylinder, 30,"forcing the piston 21 Aup and with it the couiiterweight 18 thus causing the lowering of the other end of lever 15 and consequently, the'lowering of the bell. vl)uring the passage `of the power-fluid through the pipe 25, it alsopasses through the pipe 29, into the cylinder 30 above the piston 3l and forces itfand its rod 32 downward and carries with it the rack 33. rlhis causes the 'pinion '34 and shaft 35 to rotate, `carrying around also the pulley or drum 36 and winding `chain 37 ithereon, whereby the testrod is raised to its uppermost position in which it is above the line to which the stock is fed when the fur! nace is fully charged. As soon as .the charge of stock is discharged" into the furnace, the valve (by moving its handle) is adjusted through the proper ports, and the {luidpower is cut ott from both cylinders, so that the`counterweight raises the bell into its closed osition, while the test-rod, byits own weight, drops down until its lower end rests upon the surface ot' the stock in the into ay position in which the pipe 24 `is in,r vcommunication with the exhaust Apipe 28 furnace. The weight of the piston and rack iio above piston 31 is exhausted by4 any suitable means, such, for instance, as small pet-cocks. After this, 'the rod simply follows the stock down as it settles, 'unwinding the chain from the drum andfraising the rack and piston.

' The piston 31k may be at any point above the bottom when the bell is open, depending upon the time of the last opening 'of the b'ell, and the rate of settlement of the stock, but the power-fluid alwaysforces it to the bottom which raises the end of the test-rod above rthe highest.. level towhich `the stock is permitted to come, so Vthat it shall never get. caught by the stock. The amount, ot' this over-travel is one or two feet. This also 'gives the mechanism some rooin for' movement, no-matter how full the furnace is,`and

iat

' bottom and remained there when the furnace sirab'le. V

the compressed air of the-cushion. A simi-4 55.

' bell is attained.

lat the top of the same cylinder and at the prevents the possibility of sticking which might occur if the piston simplyv went to the was full.

The travel of the rack and piston is seen to be directly proportional to that of the test-rod, thou h of less extent and this travel is still Inl-ther reduced by the reducing lever i3 to such an amount that the maximum vertical travel of the Wire 46 will be the same as the total travel of the recorder lever 47 so that the maximum travel of thepiston and test rod corresponds to the total travel of the recorderpen 50 and the inovementof the pen is proportional to the' descent of the .test-rod from its highest position. The recorder chart is divided into concentric circlesand the pen isset on the zero circle when the lfurnace is full andthe one or two feet of over travel of the test-rod are shown beyond this line and do not count.A If the stock in the furnace settles regularly, the motion of the cha-rt, ,andvof4 the pen, draws a diagonal or rather-a spiral line on the chart. If the stock in the furnace stops settling altogether, (called sticking the pen sim, ly draws acircle,- and if the stock falls su denly (known as slipping), the pen draws a lain transverse arc.

From the oregoing it will be observed that the valve which is the controlling device for thel test-rod actuating mechanism,N is also the controlling device of the actuating mechanism of vthe main bell of the furnace, -wliereby the greatest simplicity of construction, ea'seof operation, and simultaneity of movement of the test-rod and main In practice, it is preferable to use a cylinder for the testrod somewhat larger than is necessary to obtain suticient power to raise the test-rod whenA the full working pressure of the bell cylinder is used, and to throttle the Supply pipe '29 by means of a suitable val-veas ati52, (Fig. l),thus giving a re` serve'p'ower which may be sometimes de- 'I prefer Vto not quite close the bottom of the test rod cylinder so as to furnish an air cushion' to 'avoid shock atthe ,end of' the pistonmovement, alsmall pet-cock 53 being provided to allow of the gradual escape of lar valve'may be used for the samepurpose bottom of cylinder 22.

The wire connecting the reducing lever with'V the recorder lever' is kept taut by a wei ht .la't its lower end so that the recorer lever is properly held in -position for operation. I

The mechanism hereinbefore described is' perhapsV the preferable form in which I have embodied my invention but many modications thereof, or variations therefrom, may

be made without departing from vthe spirit and scope of the invention which involves` the use of a motor or operating device actu-v ated by any lluid 'oi' form of energy, as steam, compressed air. water, electricity, or mechanical power, to be controlled by such ing there and following the motion of the stock, so long as the main bell remains closed,. vwith suitable mechanism for `transmitting the motionof tlietcst rodto a suitable recording instrument on which the motion of the test rod shall be recorded on a reduced scale on a chart having a regular movement approximately 'at right angles to the movement of the recorder pen or pencil. In Figs.

bell is omitted, and thefluid pressure normally admittedto the upper end of tlie bell cylinder to hold the bell closed. j

Fig. 4 shows the parts in the normal position, in which the power fluid passes from the pipe- 55 through the valve 56 and the pipes 5,7 and lrespeetively into the upper end of the bell cylinder and the lower end of the test-rod or recorder cylinder, the pressure through the pipe 57 keeping'thebell closed and that' through the pipe 61 raising a weighted piston 60 and lowering the testrod on the stock. lVhen the fluid is cut off from-pipes 57 and 58 by adjusting the valve to the position. of Fig. 5, the pipe 61 leading from the lower end ofthe bell cylinder is in communication, through suitable ports, with the exhaust outlet 62 and the Huid in the bell cylinder below the iston is exhausted, permitting the bell to' ower by its own weight means as will cause it to raise the test-rod A '85. 4 and 5 I have illustrated one of such modi- .A lfications, in vwhich the counters-'eight for the and open itself. .At the same Vtime the` llO 7 the counterweight is employed but part of the fluid pressure is vadmitted through the pipe 63 to. the upper end'of the bellv cylinder (Figzv) and part to the lower end through the pipe 64. Then adjusted to the position of Fig. 7, the pressure is admitted to both cylinders as in Fig. 2, 'through the ipes 64 and -65, raising the piston in -tlie be l -cylinder and lowering; .the piston in the test-rodl cylinder, as in the preferredlconstruction shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A number of test-rods may be used if properly connected to the counterweight lever.

, What I claim as' new is- 1. A stock-line recorder for blast`fur.-

naces comprising a charginmbellvnormally closed, an actuating device iper opening the bell, a testrod, an actuating device independent ot'- the "bell" for raising test-rod when the bell is opened, and means for causing said actuating devices for both the bell and test-rodl to operate simultaneously.

QVA stock-line recorder for blast furnaces comprising a charging bell normally closed, almotor for opening the bell, a testrod, a motor for raising the test rod, and a single controlling device Yfor both motors.

v3. A stock-line recorder :tor blast furneces comprising a chargingbell normally closed, a duid cylinder Jfor opening the bell, a. test-rod, a fluid cylinder Yfor raising the test-rod, and a single valve for controlling the admission of fluid to both cylinders.

fl. A stock line recorder itor blast furnaces comprising a charging-bell, a counterweight for normally. closing said bell, an actuating device tor raising the. counterweight and opening the bell, a test-rod normal y lowered, an actuating device for` raising the test-rod independentlyof but simultaneously with the opening of the belland a single controlling device for the actuating devices of both bell and test-rod'. i

5. A stock-'line recorder forblast fur naces comprising a vcharging bell, avcounterweight for normally closing said bell, a

motor raisingcthe counterweight and opening the bell, a test-rodfnormally lowered, a

.l motor for raising the test-rod simultane ously with the-opening of the bell, and a.

`single controlling device for the motors of yboth the bell and test-rod.

6. A stock-line frecorder for blast furnaces comprising a charging'bell, a counterweight for normally closing said bell, a fluid cylinder for raisingthe counterweight and opening the bell, a test rod normally lowered,` a fluid cylinder for raising the test-rod 'simultaneously with the opening of the bell,

and a slngl'e valve for controlling the fluid cylinders of both bell and testrod. Y

7.` A stock-linerecorder for blastfurnaces comprising al lever, a chargingbell suspended atene end thereof, a counterseines a pinion and a drum, connections between the drum andthe test-rod, a vertically reeiprocating rack engaging the pinion, a recorder having a moving chart, a lever carry-4 ing a pen in Contact with vthe chart, and connections between the rack or pinionand diepen-lever of the recorder.

9. stock-line recorder naces comprising a test-rod, a shaft carrying `a pinion and a drum, connections between the drum and the test rod, a vertically reciprocatory rack engaging the pinion, a

clockwork having` a moving chart', a lever. carrying a pen 1n contact with the chart, a

reducing lever. connected with the rack or pinionand a wire connecting the reducing lever and the lever of the recorder pen.

10. A stock line,recorder for blastL furnaces comprising a test-rod, a shaft carrying a pinion' and a drum, connections between the drum and the test-rod, a' vertically reciprocatory rack 4engaging the' pinion,` a clockwork having a'moving chart, lever carrying a pen in contact with the elilu't. .a

reducing lever connected with the pinion," 85

a wire connecting the reducing lever and the lever of the recorder pen and a weight at the end of the wire to keep it taut.

ln testimony whereof l alliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

rosari-r E.f JOHNSON, JR.

`VVitnesses v FIRMsToNn, F. F. Musonovn.

for blast 'fur- 

